Truss



Oct. 14, 1952 D. E. MANDELL TRUSS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 1, 1948 INVENTOR I DAV/D E. MANUEL].

0a 6 744% mj ATTORNEJ Oct. 14, 1952 MANDELL 2,613,668

TRUSS F 1 1961 May 1, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR DAVID E. MANDELL Patented Oct. 14, 1952 TRUSS David E. Mandell, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bertram Herman Mandell, Elmhurst, N. Y.

Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,640

Claims.

This invention relates to trusses and in particular to improvements therein of the adjustable positioned type.

In the past trusses have been constructed which provide truss-pad supporting means by which the truss-pads can be adjusted both laterally upon the supporting band and Vertically with respect to the supporting band. In addition there have been provided means for adjusting the inward angle of the truss-pad supporting member thereby providing a truss-pad pressure adjustment.

However, in the devices shown and described in the prior art, although various truss-pad positioning adjustment means have been shown, the improvements do not provide for free motion or free displacement between the truss-pad and its supporting band or belt. That is, while the improvements permit the truss-pad to be adjustably displaced relative to the supporting band, they in no way provide for a floating truss-pad which may be displaced relative to the supporting band as the band is moved by body motion.

By the present invention an improvement is provided in truss-pad supports which not only permits the wearer to initially position the trusspad and adjust its pressure at the exact point of rupture, but in addition, the present invention provides means for providing an additional free displacement of the truss-pad support. This additional free displacement permits the wearer to twist and turn his body thereby moving the semi-rigid supporting band, while in no way moving the truss-pad from its desired position on the body. Thus, the truss-pad or button is not only adjustable in relation to its supporting belt, but actually floats in its pre-set position with respect to its supporting belt.

It is therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a truss-support in which the truss-pad is free to move relative to its pre-set position with respect to its supporting belt, due to body motion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connecting linkage between a trusspad and its supporting belt which yields to the motion of the supporting belt created as the wearers body is contacted.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a truss incorporating the principles of the present invention,

Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the structure shown in Fig. 1, I

Fig. 4 is an end view of another truss constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention,

Fig. 4A is a section view taken along line 4A-4A of Fig. 4,

Fig. 5 is an end view partially in section of still another truss constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 5A is a partial section view taken along line SA-EA of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 5B is a detailed view of one part of struc ture shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 1, there is shown a supporting band or belt l0 constructed of rigid or semi-rigid material such as spring steel which is held in place around the wearers body by suitable means such as a buckle II and a bent lip 12. A carriage member M has bent lips l5 and [6 which form a channel through which the belt I0 is inserted. This permits the carriage member M to be easily slid along said belt ID. A second pair of bent lips I1 and I8 on the carriage member I4, shown in detail in Fig. 3, permit a sliding rider 35 to freely pass vertically in the resulting channel formed thereby. The rider 35 has a pair of parallel slots l9 and 20 cut therethrough at its upper end. The slots l9 and 20 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rider 35 and are disposed on opposite sides thereof.

A truss-pad 2|, which may be formed of a plastic such as Lucite or nylon or of hard rubber, is fixed to a supporting member-'22 as by a machine screw 23, a washer 24 and a nut. 25, as shown in detail in Fig. 2. The supporting member 22 has a pair of slots l9 and 20' cut therein at the end opposite the truss-pad 2!. The slots l9 and 20' are oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis of the supporting member 22 and are displaced on opposite sides thereof.

The supporting member 22 is loosely linked with the rider 35 by discs 26 and 21 which are positioned through slots [9, l9 and 20, 20' respectively. The discs 26 and 21 are kept in place by passing locking pins 30 therethrough.

A tension screw 36 passing through a threaded hole 31 in the lower end of the rider 35 butts against the facing wall 38 of the supporting member 22, thereby determining the angle between said supporting member 22 and rider 35. By. rotating the tension screw 36 the angle may be increased or decreased so that the pressure transferred by the truss-pad or button 2| is regulated.

In wearing such a truss, the wearer fastens the belt l around his body clipping it in place by means of the buckle II and bent lip l2. The truss-pad 2| may then be moved laterally with respect to the belt Ill by sliding the carriage member I4 along the belt In. To adjust the vertical position of the truss-pad 2|, the rider 35 is positioned vertically in the channel of carriage |4 formed by lips H and |8, and the supporting member 22 is adjusted with respect to the rider 35. Care should be taken to avoid adjusting the truss so that none of the displaceable members are in an extreme position. Otherwise, difiiculty may arise during wear in that motion may be hampered by such extreme positioning. The tension applied by the truss-pad is regulated by the tension screw adjustment 36. After the truss-pad has been positioned and the proper tension applied, the wearer is free to move his body in any manner he wishes. the semi-rigid or rigid supporting band it] moves with the body, the truss-pad 2| remains fixed at the point of rupture because of the free displacement occurring between the various supporting members I4, 35 and 22 of the truss. This relative displacement may occur between the various members, while the proper thrust is being maintained at the exact point of rupture.

Thus, by constructing a supporting structure for connectingthe trusspad to the supporting belt which yields to forces created therebetween, it is possible for the supporting beltto move with respect to the truss-pad while not causing the pad itself to be displaced. Furthermore, this desirable feature is attained while maintaining I.

the proper thrust force by the truss-pad.

Figure 4 shows another type of truss-padsupport embodying the features of this invention. As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a carriage member M, which slides along a belt HI supports a vertical rider 35, which is capable of being displaced vertically with respect to the carriage member l4. The vertical rider 35, constructed of a resilient material such as spring steel, has two branches 40 and 4|. The branch 40 passes through the channel in the carriage member I4, and has a bent lip 42 which serves as a stop. The branch 4!, which forms an oblique angle with the branch 40, supports a bushing member 43 which is fastened thereto by screws 44 and 45.

The truss-pad 2| is attached to a cylindrical slider 46 by means of a screw 41 and nuts 48, 49 and 59 The bushing member 43 is provided with an axial bore 52 for receiving the slider 46. A nut 53 fastened to the threaded end of the slider 46 prevents the truss-pad 2| from becoming disengaged from the carriage member l4 and the rider 35. As shown in Fig. 4A, which is a section view taken along line 4A-4A of Fig. 4, a flat is provided on the cylindrical slider 46 which mates with a corresponding fiat 54 in the axial bore 52. This arrangement serves to maintain proper axial orientation of the slider 46 with respect to the bushing member 43.

As in previous embodiment, the wearer fastens the belt I0 around his body. The truss-pad 2| is then positioned at the exact point of rupture by moving the carriage member |4 laterally with respect to the belt l0 and by adjusting the vertical position of the rider and the slider 46 within the bushing member 43. Since the trusspad 2| is linked to the supporting belt I!) through the relatively displaceable members 46, 35' and M, the wearer may again movehis body in any manner with the assurance that such motion will be dissipated as displacements in the connecting linkage without displacing the trusspad 2| from its desired pre-set position, i. e. the rupture point. Furthermore, such displacement occurs without disturbing the thrust pad pressure created by the spring action between branches and 4| of the rider 35 when the belt in is fastened.

Figure 5 is an end view partially in section of another embodiment of the present invention. As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a supporting belt l0 passes through the channel formed by a pair of bent lips l5 and IS in a carriage member I4. A vertical rider 35" has two arm members and 6| connected together in hinge manner by a hinge pin 52. One arm member 69 passes vertically through the carriage member I4. A threaded hole 63 in the lower end of the arm member Ell permits a tension screw 36 to pass therethrough and butt against the arm member 6|, thereby determining the angle between the arm member 60 and 6|.

A truss-pad 2| is slidably fastened to the arm member 6| by a connecting screw 64, a guiding nut 65 and alocking nut 66. The guiding nut 65, shown in perspective in Fig. 53, has a pair of guiding grooves or channels 6! and '68 cut in diametrically opposite sides.

As shown in section view 5A taken along line 5A-5A of Fig. 5, the guiding channels 61' and 68 of the guiding nut 65 cooperate with a longitudinal slot 7|) out along the axis of arm member 6|. By thismeans the truss-pad 2|" is capable of being freely displaced along the axis of the arm memberfi I while maintaining its angular position relative thereto measured about the axis of the connecting screw 64.

As in previous embodiments, the truss-pad 2| is positioned at the point of rupture by displacing the carriage member v|4 laterally along the belt l0 and positioning the rider 35" vertically relative thereto as well as adjusting the truss-pad 2| along the slot 10 in the arm member ill. The tension-screw 36 is adjusted so that the truss-pad 2|. transfers the desired amount of pressure. It can then be seen that as the wearer contortshis body, any displacement of supporting belt with respect to the rupture point is absorbed by the relative displacements between the members of the yielding linkage which supports the truss-pad 2|. Thus the pre-set position of the truss-pad 2| is maintained as well as the thrust or pressure supplied by the tension screw 36.

What is claimed is:

l. A truss comprising a belt, a carriage fastened to said belt and adapted to be longitudinally displaced along the length of said belt, a rider supported by said .carriage member and adapted to be vertically displaced relative thereto, said rider having a longitudinal slot cut at one end thereof, a supporting member oriented at an angle to said rider and having a longitudinal slot cut at one end thereof, a disc oriented at right angles to said rider member and said supporting member, said disc having a portion passing through said slot in said rider and a portion' passing through said slot in said supporting member, retaining pins passing through said slot extending portions of said disc, and a truss pad connected .to amend of said supporting member.

2. A truss as in claim 1 wherein a screw is threaded through an endof said rider, said screw iiaving one end bearing .on said supporting memer. I

3. A truss comprising a belt, a carriage fastened to said belt and adapted to be longitudinally displaced along the length of said belt, a V-shaped rider having a first branch supported by said carriage, and adapted to be vertically displaced relative thereto, a bushing supported by the second branch of said V-shaped rider, said bushing having a bore cut therethrough, a slider passing through said bore, and a truss pad connected to one end of said slider.

4. A truss comprising a belt, a carriage fastened to said belt and adapted to be longitudinally displaced along the length of said belt, a rider supported by said carriage member and adapted to be vertically displaced relative thereto, a supporting member hinged to said rider, a truss pad connected to an end of said supporting member, and a screw threaded through an end of said rider, said screw having an end bearing on said supporting member. v

5. A truss comprising a belt, a carriage having a horizontal and vertical passageway therethrough, said belt passing freely through said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 451 Salisbury Nov. 4, 1837 69,028 Rowe Sept. 17, 1867 233,646 Tucker Oct. 26, 1880 415,073 Stephens Nov. 12, 1889 

